Over the years, I’ve written many things; from short stories when I was 5, “news columns” for our school newspaper, satirical pieces, poems, diary entries, to entire plot-heavy, nearly 200,000 word novel, but none as difficult as this is going to be.

I am humbly asking for your help.

“Why is that so hard?” you may ask (or maybe not). When you’re someone who has been on her own, or with minimal support most of her life, asking for help isn’t something easy (because the help usually isn’t there). That, and we live in a society at present time where anyone looking for help is frequently pegged as a loser, lazy, etc.

I’ve struggled with mental health issues since I was a young child, but these past two years at the very least I have, honestly, struggled the most. I got divorced a couple of years ago, and while the split was essential, unfortunately there were a lot of things that coincided with it that triggered this worsening of my mental state (things that I cannot state here in such a public forum). Many of those triggers, though, could be due to several health issues that have gone on for a long time, undiagnosed and uncontrolled, that I’ve only just begun to get to the bottom of. But, as you know, it can take a while for even a diagnosis, let alone a treatment or healing. I'm working on it.

Before I started feeling really lousy, some of you might know I had a decently successful stint as an independent author, but I’ve had to dial that back for many reasons. When I split with my ex, I was hoping to get it started again, but my current health and mental issues have made it impossible. I do have help from a family member, but otherwise I’ve no income for the time being. I’ve been living off the tail end of savings which is just about wiped out. I still hope to go back to writing, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to achieve the same success with my current struggles. So, I’m hoping I’ll be able to get disability, but for that first, I need diagnoses. It may be a while.

So, I’m hoping to raise some funds to sustain us until I can either get to a point where I can write and publish again, feel well enough to take a part time job (difficult, as I live very rurally, and job opportunities are scarce; no hope for relocation any time soon), or get disability… whatever. I have an appointment with the cardiologist in January, after months of waiting, and I’m setting up a full psychiatric evaluation here soon, where I hope I can get to the bottom of what is ailing my brain; I’ve been diagnosed with “massive depressive disorder”, but I I suspect there’s more going on (which might be directly or indirectly making my physical issues worse, or the physical is making the mental worse, I really have no idea).

With the help of my family member, we have basics (like groceries), but anything else is a stretch. Unfortunately, all our remaining family lives cross-country, so there is no one else. I’m struggling to purchase groceries, clothes (while thrifting is something we do, I generally don’t find much for myself in the shops, plus they’re all incredibly overpriced out here), personal care items (like shampoo that doesn't make my head itch or feminine products), pet supplies for my two kitties, and my tires on my car are about shot. Winter has hit in Minnesota, and while I was praying for another season without snow, looks like that request went unanswered. Bad tires and snowy roads are a recipe for disaster in MN.

Christmas is also coming up, and I’d like to be able to get my kids a little something; they have everything they need, but they still have some small requests. I’d also really like to get my mom something; we never shop for each other and it’d be nice to surprise her (if not this year—next year, hopefully).

I know times are tough for many, especially right now, so if all you can do is pass this along, I’d be grateful. Or, if you’re a romance reader and looking for something new to read, I have eighteen books online at Amazon to choose from. Every little bit, well wish, and love helps, and it is appreciated more than you could ever know.

All my best,

Sarah-Elizabeth (aka Sariah Skye) Burke